Sunday, September 06, 2009

But Bland Works

This line of criticism re the Libs' English ad is as predictable as it is mis-guided. You don't want to introduce your leader to the public with an attack on the other guys. In the words of Jack Stanton, you never want to be the first one to act like an asshole. And when Nicholls writes

Well strategically speaking they make no sense. These kind of positive, hokey ads only work if your guy is way out in front....he misses the point entirely. They also work if you want to give the audience the impression that your guy is out in front, at least figuratively--that he's responsible, has a positive vision for the nation, and isn't interested in partisan cheap shots. You don't want to give the impression that he's a perpetually angry jerk with no class and no couth, if only because the Torys have that demographic sewn up already.

I'm sure the Libs have a darker line of campaign rhetoric at the ready, but this is not the time for it. Nicholls problem, and the problem with Conservatives generally, is that for them, if you're not accusing someone of being a pedophile or a commie, its just not campaigning.

12 comments:

That is one of the reasons they don't get it. They don't realize there is an entire audience of voters they lost months or years back.

People here consider me some type of hyper-partisan for the Liberals when the truth is I fell squarely in the camp of people willing to give the conservatives a chance when they won. They weren't my choice, but I was willing to see.

I saw. And now I'm considered a shill for the liberals (by some libloggers no less). Harper earned reputation with me. I didn't go looking for it.

There's positive and then there's bland. While I have nothing against positive ads, why does Iggy refuse to give anything of substance? Where does he stand on Afghanistan, EI, the tar sands and other issues? Instead of answering this we get bland, and that's what's wrong about these ads.

well said Joseph. You are right. These ads are for people that politics is not their first time passion. I can see this working for my sister in Mississauga, who fits the demographic of what the Tories are lusting for. She'd like this ad because it isnt "scary" or "pinging like a casino like the last ones".

There is a darker line of rhetoric and it's in the French ads that were released, one criticizing the Harper management of the economy, the other criticizing their record on the environment.

I don't think we have any need to worry that the Liberals will be able to pummel Harper. To see what I mean, read my translation of the ad transcripts at my blog (http://www.youngpeopleforchange.blogspot.com)